At their core, Softcult is a band with something to say—and every intention of saying it with their full chest. Now they embark on their most bold and vulnerable journey yet as the Ontario-based twins, Mercedes (she/her) and Phoenix (they/them) Arn-Horn, are set to release their highly-anticipated debut full-length, When A Flower Doesn’t Grow, on January 30, 2026.
The Canadian sibling duo of Mercedes (she/her) and Phoenix (they/them) Arn-Horn––aka Softcult––return with another gut-punch of a track from their forthcoming debut LP called "She Said, He Said." The highly-anticipated album, When A Flower Doesn't Grow, is due out January 30, 2026––just ahead of their upcoming U.S. dates alongside Lights.
Softcult is the kind of band with something to say and every intention of saying it with their full chest. "She Said, He Said" is no different as the twins tackle a culture of misogynistic skepticism in this new song about believing survivors of assault.
Softcult is the kind of band with something to say and every intention of saying it with their full chest. "She Said, He Said" is no different as the twins tackle a culture of misogynistic skepticism in this new song about believing survivors of assault.
Mercedes explains: "it's known that sexual assault cases are historically under-reported, and most victims don't come forward of fear of being accused of lying. When survivors do come forward they are all too often blamed for encouraging the situation that led to the assault in the first place. Myths and bogus claims aiming to dismiss allegations of assault perpetuate misinformation that leads to mistrust and suspicion of survivors when they decide to share their stories. This contributes to the silencing of survivors, enabling predators to continue with their mistreatment while escaping accountability. This song tells a story that is all too familiar; the 'nice guy' that coerces and pressures his victim instead of asking for consent.”
As she does with all their videos, Mercedes wrote / produced / directed the video for "She Said, He Said," weaving clues and easter eggs from past videos ("Naive, "16/25") to represent a common theme of patriarchal oppression and abuse.
Mercedes explains:
"We chose an interrogation room setting to capture the feeling of 'making a case' for our truth to be heard and believed. We included some Easter eggs referencing other videos from this album cycle, which represent a common theme of patriarchal oppression and abuse. The clues displayed as evidence on the interrogation room table lead directly to the anonymous male characters in other videos (Naive, 16/25). However, the detective fails to make the connection, blinded by patriarchal bias, and instead casts suspicion and classically blames the victim.”
Mercedes explains:
"We chose an interrogation room setting to capture the feeling of 'making a case' for our truth to be heard and believed. We included some Easter eggs referencing other videos from this album cycle, which represent a common theme of patriarchal oppression and abuse. The clues displayed as evidence on the interrogation room table lead directly to the anonymous male characters in other videos (Naive, 16/25). However, the detective fails to make the connection, blinded by patriarchal bias, and instead casts suspicion and classically blames the victim.”
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When A Flower Doesn't Grow is a self-produced, self-recorded, and fiercely independent collection of songs that detail trauma to rebirth and transformation. Its title comes from a quote by Dutch author, Alexander Den Heijer: "when a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”
For Mercedes, those words hit during one of the most pivotal moments of her life: ending a nine-year relationship, coming out as queer, and confronting the cycles of oppression she had been internalizing for years, despite being so outspoken about empowerment. “The person I portrayed myself to be on stage was not the same person making the decisions that governed my life,” she explains. “I was root bound. I was disappearing, shrinking, withering away… and I felt ashamed of it."
As a result, this album is a conceptual work about the various stages of one’s own internal metamorphosis; written from the perspective of someone who has been radicalized by trauma, empowered by their own resilience, and who ultimately healed and blossomed into the person they were always meant to be.
Musically, Softcult continue to expand their rich blend of grunge, shoegaze, and alt-rock textures, weaving fuzz-laden riffs and dreamy soundscapes with raw, confessional lyricism. The result is both intimate and universal: a record for anyone who has ever felt trapped or diminished by their surroundings, and a rallying cry to nurture ourselves and each other in the pursuit of freedom and authenticity. |
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The album follows last year’s acclaimed Heaven EP, which flipped the concept of an afterlife on its head, critiquing a culture fixated on the future while ignoring the urgent need for change in the present. That release saw the duo land the cover of Spotify’s MARROW playlist (over 4.7 million followers) and embark on tours across North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Along the way they’ve won fans in artists like Hayley Williams and Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes, opened for Incubus and MUSE, and earned praise from outlets including Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Paste, Consequence, Alternative Press, Kerrang!, CBC, The Gay Times, and more.
Born in the studio and committed to carving out their own universe, Softcult embody a fiercely DIY ethos. Phoenix handles production, engineering, and artwork, while Mercedes writes, produces, directs, and edits their deeply personal and impactful videos. Together they create and distribute a monthly zine, SCripture, and remain deeply engaged with their community through the Softcult Discord server. Their music and message are constant reminders that the revolution is very much alive - proof that true liberation begins when we change the environment and allow ourselves, and each other, to grow.
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